Judy Carmichael

Biography

Judith Lea Hohenstein, 27 November 1957, Lynwood, California, USA. Carmichael grew up in a musical household and was taught piano by her mother from the age of four. A gifted pianist, she played piano for Jo Stafford when still only 10 years old. Her career began in earnest in the early 70s and flourished after she based herself in New York from the early 80s. Technically assured, Carmichael is unusual among her contemporaries in her wholehearted embrace of classic jazz piano and in particular stride piano, on which she has written two books. Her ability in this genre drew an accolade from Count Basie who nicknamed her Stride. Among other fans early in her career were Benny Carter and Sarah Vaughan and it was with the latters encouragement that Carmichael made Two Handed Stride, her first ensemble album on which she was teamed with a group that included several Basie-ites: Marshal Royal, Freddie Green, Red Callender and Harold Jones....